Supreme Court decisions and announcements

DC Circuit Court Upholds 2-1 Conviction of Cowboys for Trump Founder on Jan. 6 Trespassing Charge

Oct 22, 2024, 04:38 PM

The DC Circuit Court has upheld the conviction of Couy Griffin, founder of Cowboys for Trump, for his role in the January 6 insurrection. The court ruled 2-1 in favor of the Department of Justice, affirming Griffin's misdemeanor trespassing charge under 18 U.S.C § 1752. This long-awaited ruling is significant as it confirms that the government does not have to prove that Griffin knew a Secret Service protectee, such as Vice President Pence, was present in the restricted zone. The decision, which saw Judge Katsas dissenting, may have broader implications for similar prosecutions of January 6 defendants and suggests that further challenges could elevate the issue to SCOTUS. The ruling comes after nearly an 11-month delay and highlights the ongoing legal challenges surrounding the January 6 cases.